Display rack



y 1957 H. w. MAPSTONE 2,792,126

DISPLAY RACK Filed July 6, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. HERBERT K.MAPS TONE HIS A TI'ORIVEY May 14, 1957 H. w. MAPSTONE DISPLAY RACK FiledJuly 6. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l 58 l-2 W I 7 Fla. 1. F

INVENTOR. HERBERT n. MAPSTONE HIS ATTORNEY DISPLAY RACK Herbert W.Mapstone, East Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Crosman Seed Corporation,East Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 6,1954, Serial No. 441,279

9 Claims. (Cl. 211-2) This invention relates to display racks orshelves, and more particularly to display racks adapted for the storageand display of merchandise offered for sale, one object being theprovision of a more useful device of this description.

In stores and markets it is often desired to display certain types ofmerchandise in an attractive and accesments of various types ofmerchandise which may be altered when it is desired to display adifferent type of merchandise. For this reason, another object of thisinvention is the provision of a display rack with movable andinterchangeable parts which may be assembled in difierent arrangementsadapted to display different kinds of merchandise.

Another object is the provision of a convertible display rack of theabove description which is completely self contained and wherein all theseparate parts are stored within the unit itself.

A further object is the provision of a display rack affording the aboveadvantages that is simple and attractive in design and relativelyinexpensive to produce.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvementsand combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the endof the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a display rack embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional side elevation taken substantially alongline 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. l with the rack arranged todisplay small packages;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional plan view takensubstantially along 55 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional plan view takensubstantially along line 6-4? in Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation takensubstantially along line 77 in Fig. 2, and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the interchangeable small package rackremoved from the main display rack 2,792,125 Patented May 14,

Side boards 10 and 11 are connected by a trough-like top member 16,upper and lower face boards 17 and 18, and fixed bottom shelf 20 andback 21 to form a rigid structure suitable for supporting movableshelves, as hereinafter described. A series of movable horizontalshelves 25, 26 and 27 are slidably mounted in horizontal channels 29, 30and 31, respectively, which are fastened to side boards 10 and 11, asshown in Fig. 7, and together form a main display rack.

A series of vertical back boards 35, 36 and 37 are mounted at the rearend of shelves 25, 26 and 27, re spectively, and are movable therewithto form the rear wall of said shelves. When these shelves are in theirforwardmost position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the display rack isadapted for holding and displaying merchandise of relatively large size,such as packages of bread, cereal, soap and the like.

The forward movement of shelves 25, 26 and 27 is limited by stops 39, 40and 41 (Figs. 2 and 7) which preferably comprise dowels projecting fromside boards 10 and 11. The shelves are prevented from moving rearwardlyby an interchangeable small package rack 43 which is stored in the rearpart of the display rack as shown in Fig. 2, which will be hereinaftermore fully described.

The interchangeable small package rack 53 (Fig. 8) preferably comprisesa curved basket-like wire structure comprising two parallel curved sidemembers 15 and 46 connected by cross members 47 and subdividing members48 to form a plurality of small elongated compartments open at the top.Interchangeable small package rack 43 is normally removably hung on twohooks 50 on the rear of a board 52 depending vertically from trough 16and is supported, out of sight, being hidden by boards 52, 35, 36, 37and 21 as shown in Fig. 2. Rack 43 is stored in this out-of-the-waymanner when the rack is used for displaying large packages ofmerchandise as described above.

When it is desired to display merchandise in relatively small packages,such as for example, those commonly used for selling flower and gardenseeds, interchangeable small package rack 43 is removed from its hookspreparatory for positioning on the front of the main display rack.Shelves 25, 26 and 27 are then moved rearwardly in tracks 29, 30 and 31,against two stop strips 54, as shown in Fig. 4. Interchangeable smallpackage display rack 43 is then set in front of the main display rack,the space which has been vacated by shelves 25, 26 and 27, therebyallowing the display of multiplicity of small packages, as shown inFigs. 3 and 4.

The top of the main display rack is preferably adapted for carrying alighted sign or other suitable advertising matter. For example, anelongated fluorescent lamp 56 is attached to trough 16, as shown inFigs. 2 and 4, to provide a source of light for this advertisingdisplay, and at the same time, to illuminate the merchandise beingdisplayed. Front wall 17 of the upper part of the display rack ispierced to form an opening 58 of rectangular or other convenient shape,as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. A track comprising two horizontal grooves isprovided behind window 53 to allow the insertion of a sheet oftransparent or translucent material 59 adapted to cover opening 58 andlight 56 (Figs. 2 and 4). Suitable advertising matter is preferablywritten on trans parent or translucent sheet 59 in suitable coloredmedia which themselves may be transparent or translucent, as is wellknown in the art. A series of different signs is preferably provided foreach of the different types of merchandise offered for sale in the rack.

The rack herein described thus provides a very useful and convenientunit for the alternate display of different types of merchandise. It maybe used, for example, in a grocery store or variety store for displayinggrocery or other packaged products throughout the fall and winterseasons and may be converted in the spring to provide a convenient andattractive display of a large selection of llower and garden seeds, whenthe season for selling these items approaches. This provision of theinterchangeable small package rack allows a single main display rack toserve a double purpose with a saving of expense and space, while themethod of storing the unused display means in the rear of the unit whilethe other is in use, makes the unit completely self-contained. No toolsare required to convert the rack from one type of display to the other.The entire rack is supported by casters for easy movement so that thedisplay may be strategically located in the position best suited for thesale of the particular merchandise being offered.

It will thus be seen that the invention accomplishes its objects, andwhile it has been herein disclosed by reference to the details of apreferred embodiment, it is to be understood that such disclosure isintended in an illustrative, rather than a limiting sense, as it iscontemplated that various modifieations in the construction andarrangement of the parts will readily occur to those skilled in the art,within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A display rack comprising supporting members, a plurality of shelvesmovably supported by said supporting members for displaying one type ofmerchandise and movable to operative position and to inoperativeposition, an auxiliary rack adapted to fit over the front of the firstmentioned rack for containing and displaying another type of merchandisewhen said shelves are in inoperative position.

2. A display rack comprising supporting members, a plurality of shelvesmovably supported by said supporting members for displaying one type ofmerchandise and movable to operative position and to inoperativeposition, an auxiliary rack adapted to fit over the front of the firstmentioned rack for containing and displaying another type of merchandisewhen said shelves are in inoperative position, and means for supportingsaid auxiliary rack on the back of the first mentioned rack when saidshelves are in operative position.

3. A display rack comprising supporting members, a plurality ofsubstantially horizontal shelves movably supported by said members andmovable to a front position and to a rear position, an auxiliary rackadapted to fit in the front of said display rack for containing anddisplaying merchandise when said shelves are in rearward position, saidauxiliary rack being adapted to fit in the rear of said rack for storagewhen said shelves are in the front position.

4. A display rack comprising supporting members, a plurality ofvertically spaced horizontal shelves of progressively decreasing depthin an upward direction and having their front edges in an upwardly andrearwardly inclined alignment slidably supported by said members andmovable to a front position and to a rear position, an auxiliary rackadapted to fit in front of said display rack in an inclined position forcontaining and displaying merchandise when said shelves are in rearwardposition, said auxiliary rack being adapted to fit in the rear of saidrack for storage when said shelves are in the front position.

5. A display rack comprising supporting members, a plurality ofhorizontal tracks supported by said members, horizontal shelves slidablysupported in said tracks, said shelves being movable to a forwardposition and to a rearward position, an auxiliary rack adapted to fit inthe front part of said rack for containing and displaying merchandisewhen said shelves are in the rearward position, said auxiliary rackbeing adapted to fit in the rear of said rack when said shelves are inthe forward position.

6. A display rack comprising vertical supporting membars, a plurality ofhorizontal shelves slidably supported by said vertical members andmovable to a forward position and to a rearward position rerticalbaekboards attached to each of said shelves adjacent to the rear edgethereof and extending upwardly to form backs for said shelves, anauxiliary rack adapted to fit in the front of said display rack forcontaining and displaying merchandise when said shelves are in therearward position, said auxiliary rack being adapted to fit in the rearof said display rack in a position concealed by said backs of saidshelves, for storage when said shelves are in the forward position.

'7. A display rack comprising a base, two upwardly extending parallelspaced side supporting members, a plurality of vertically spaced,horizontal shelves extending between and movably supported by saidsupporting members, certain of said shelves being movable to a forwardposition and to a rearward position, means for restraining the movementof said shelves between predetermined limits, an auxiliary rackcomprising two parallel spaced side members and connecting crossmembers, said cross members being connected by a plurality of dividingmembers to form a multiplicity of compartments for containing anddisplaying merchandise, and means for supporting said auxiliary rack inthe front of said display rack when said shelves are in the rearwardposition.

8. A display rack comprising a base, two upwardly extending parallelspaced side supporting members, a plurality of movable spaced horizontalshelves extending between said supporting members and supported thereby,certain of said shelves being movable to a forward position and to arearward position, an auxiliary rack comprising two parallel spaced sidemembers and connecting cross members, said cross members being connectedby a plurality of dividing members to form a multiplicity ofcompartments for containing and displaying merchandise, means forsupporting said auxiliary rack in the front of said display rack whensaid shelves are in the rearward position, and means for supporting saidauxiliary rack in the rear of said display rack for stor age when saidshelves are in the forward position.

9. A display rack as described in claim 8 provided with means forilluminating said merchandise and a sign for advertising the same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS673,265 Holtzclaw Apr. 30, 1901 1,672,633 Vogel June 5, 1928 1,861,310Liebendorfer May 31, 1932

